Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



2 sheets -Sheet 2.

G. H. FERRISS.

Breech-Loading Ordnance;

Patented Mar 22 1864 C1 TQ \lwq mvEmoR. 10 44,

WIT ESSES.

N-PETERS, PHOTO-UTMOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C. I

enonen H. ruenrss, or union, new roux.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADVING ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent -No. 41,984, dated March22, 1864; antedaied March 9, 1861.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE E. FER-miss, ofUtica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Ordnance; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, and of which- Figure 1is a side elevation of my improved breech-loading cannon; Fig. 2, an endview of the same with the breech-screw E and its supporting-nut Dremoved; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal central section of my cannonwith the loading-aperture in its breech closed by the screw-encircledrecoil-seat E; Fig. 4, a top view thereof, as it appears with thebreech-screw E and recoil-seat E withdrawn from the breech and turnedaside, to allow the gun to be loaded. Fig. 5 represents a portion of thechase of the gun. Figs. 6 and 7 are end views of therecoil-seat E,showing the arrangement of the expanding double flange N fitted thereon.Fig. Sis a detached view in detail of portions of said expanding flangeN.

Similar letters indicate like parts in each of the drawings.

The nature of my invention consists in a novel mode of closing thechamber of a breechloading gun, whereby I obtain greater security andaccuracy in the joint and a more perfect gas-check than in the usualmode of securing the breech-piece.

My improved cannon is built of a central core, 13, of wrought -iron orother suitable metal, so formed as that it shall gradually increase inhardness from center to circumference, and which is incased within ringsor bands of steel a a a, driven and firmly secured thereon. Its chamberK is closed by a screwencircled recoil-seat, E, Fig. 3, secured to aproper operating-screw, E, by .means of a tenon-and-mortise joint, d,and dowel-pin 00, passing through the same, as illustrated in Fig. 3.This recoil-seat E is encircled by a screw, which works into aperforation properly formed and grooved to receive it in the rear end ofthe chamber K of the gun, and is necessarily made somewhat larger indiameter than the bore of said chamber. The ends of the screw-threadsencircling the recoil-seat E are cut square, and a slot, at, Fig. 2, ischanneled out in the lower portion of the screwaperture, extendinglongitudinally across its threads, Fi 3, hence any dirt which maycollect in the screw is carried forward by the ends of the threads untilit drops into this receiving-slot 12, Figs. 2 and 3.

An expansive double packing-flange composed of a slitted outer casing,N, and a segmental inner casing, c e e, is combined with the inner endof the recoil-seat E by means of set-screws in such a manner as that thejoints or slits in the two casings shall alternate. The form of saidcasings and the manner of combining them with each other and with therecoilseat E is clearly represented in Figs. 3, 6, 7, and 8 of theaccompanying drawings.

It will be observed that the peculiar arrangement of the segmentalportions 0 e e e of the inner casing is such that any one of them may bereadily withdrawn and replaced with out disturbing the remainder.

The expansive packing-flange N thus in ranged forms, in combination withthe end or face of the screw-encircled recoilseat E, a closing-piece forthe rear open end of the chamber K, which is so turned as to contractinwardly very gradually to the depth of the flange N, so that as theflange is forced into I place to close the chamber it is compressed andmade to fit with perfect tightness and accuracy therein. The edges ofthe segmental portions or staves e e e, forming the inner casin of the.iackin -fian e, are so beveled outwardly as that when forced into thechamber they will cut away all accretions or fouling upon the sides ofthe chamber so far as they enter the same. 7

It is evident that the expansion of the double packingflange N, (made asdescribed,) under the influence of the discharge of the gun, will, inconnection with the device by which it is securely held in place, form acomplete gas-check. By withdrawing the dowel-pin w, by which therecoil-seat E is secured to the breech-screw E, the former may bequickly removed for repair or carried away to render the gun useless.

The operating breech-screw E (which I prefer to make smaller in diameterthan the screw-encircled recoil-seat E,) is supported in ascrew-aperture formed within a pivoted nut, D.v The nut is pivoted andsupported between two projecting arms, 0 and c, in a verand secured tothe gun opposite to the arm 0" after the nut D has been put into itsproper position. I therefore secure this'arm G to the gun, or to itsouter incasing-ring, by means of a serrated, beveled, or dovetailedjoint, as seen in Fig. 4..

The breech-screw E is operated or turned backward and forward by meansof a crank, F, Figs. 1, 3, and 4c, and the pitch of its screw- .threadsis coincident and uniform with that of the serew-threads encircling therecoilseat E. I contemplate the application of my screwoperated andscrew-encircled recoil-seat E to all forms and descriptions ofbreech-loading guns, however its exterior nut, D, may be pivoted orsupported, for I consider the use of a recoilseat or breeclrscrew whichscrews both through a sup )orting-nut and into the breech of the gun asan important and novel improvement in the mode of closing the chamber ofthe gun.

, Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isa 1. Closing and opening thechamber of a gun from the rear by means of a screw-actuated andscrew-encircled recoil-seat or breechpiece, E, when said recoil-seat orbreechpiece is received into a screw-perforation in the breech of thegun and combined exteriorly with a supporting-nut, D, or its equivalent,substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. Then the chamber of a gun is rearwardly opened and closed by means ofa screw-actuated recoil seat, E, combining a tubularshaped expansibledouble flange, N, constructed as described, with the inner face of saidrecoil-seat, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein setforth.

3. IVhen the chamber of a gun is closed and opened by a screw-encircledrecoil-seat or breech piece, E, forming a longitudinal groove or slot inthe lower portion of the screw-cut portion of the opening to saidchamber, to serve'as a receptacle for the dirt that may accumulate inthe serew-threads of the same, substantially in the manner herein setforth.

The foregoing specification of my impror'ements in breech-loadingordnance signed by me this 22d day of July, A. D. 1863.

JAMES 'l. B. COLLINS, D. O. l\'[ -\CO)IBER.

